A calculated plot to rob a Hawkinge home at machete-point has ended in significant prison time for three men, who were handed a combined sentence of nearly 19 years at Canterbury Crown Court. The sentencing follows a terrifying November 2024 raid that saw masked intruders storm a residential property while the occupants were inside.
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Darren Butler, Callum Elliot and William Webb Images: Kent Police
The incident unfolded late on Sunday, November 3, 2024, when Kent Police were called to a home near Corbett Road. The victims had been alerted by a loud noise, only to find themselves confronted by Callum Elliot and Darren Butler. The pair had forced their way into the house wearing balaclavas and boiler suits, brandishing machetes to intimidate the residents. During the confrontation, the intruders demanded high-value items, including watches and clocks, before fleeing the scene in a white Audi.
A swift investigation by Kent Police used CCTV footage and witness statements to track the suspects. Butler, 36, and Elliot, 23, were apprehended within 48 hours of the crime. However, as detectives delved deeper into mobile phone data, they uncovered a third participant. William Webb, 34, was identified as the architect of the raid. Evidence revealed that Webb had meticulously planned the burglary through extensive research and preparation, leading to his arrest in January 2025.
The legal proceedings concluded on Friday, April 24, 2026. Butler, formerly of Seaham, Durham, and Elliot, of Folkestone, both pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary. Butler received the heaviest sentence of eight years and seven months, while Elliot was ordered to serve seven years and two months. Webb, formerly of Canterbury, was convicted by a unanimous jury for conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to three years and two months behind bars.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Holly Bayliss said:
‘The victims in this case were subjected to a truly terrifying and traumatic ordeal, and lives have been changed forever as a result of the despicable actions of these cowardly offenders. I am very pleased that significant custodial sentences have been handed down to them, and I hope it will be of some comfort to the victims to know that those who targeted them in such a brutal manner will spend a long time behind bars.
‘Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their homes, and those who would commit such dreadful crimes as this should expect to be tracked down and made to face justice.’